DISPATCHED : 09/14/24 03:08:27
ON SCENE : 09/14/24 03:21:32
COMPLETED : 09/14/24 14:21:51
INCIDENT DESC : Structure Fire – 1st Alarm
LOCATION : 692 Route 49, Westfield Township
9/14/24 @ 03:08, Crary Hose Company, Harrison Twp, Clymer Twp, Elkland (RIT), Sabinsville Ambulance were dispatched to the above address for structure fire w/possible entrapment.
Chief 5-30 Mack responded to scene, arriving at 03:21 and reporting commercial building with converted living space, heavy fire from A and D sid es. 5-30 reported all occupants had made egress as the first apparatus were responding. Chief 5 immediately asked for additional assets from Knoxville, Tri-Town, Chatham,Violet Engine 5-3 w/crew of 4 arrived at 03:22 and quickly put a 2 1/2″ handline to work, knocking down the heaviest volume of fire on the A side in the livable space with tank water. Harrison Twp Engine 20-23 and Clymer Twp Engine 16-2 arrived shortly thereafter to assist 5-3 crew with suppression efforts. Water supply was acquired via drop tank and tanker team from Knoxville-Deerfield, Chatham, Tri-Town, Coudersport and Osceola depts. 5-3 crew and manpower from Harrison became side D attack, while Clymer reinforced on A side. As progress was made on the fire from both A and C sides from the exterior, C team made forcible entry into and additional man door on the C side, finding that fire had been held to the front portion of the building. Elkland Rescue 3-8 crew ventilated the roof making working conditions inside the steel building conducive to interior suppression and overhaul work. Coudersport Rescue 48-8 relieved C crew and Tri-Town Engine 47-3 on the A and C side, finished up suppression and began overhaul. Crews from Galeton Engine 10-2 and Wellsboro Rescue 1-8 made entry on the B side of the building. The D side of the building was affected by heavy smoke and heat, but no fire. Fan and hydraulic ventilation were used to eliminate smoke from the building as the lengthy overhaul process took place. UGI arrived on-scene and secured the natural gas service. The Fire Marshall was called to the scene to investigate the cause of the fire.
The fire was declared under control at 04:27, with overhaul continuing until Engine 5-3, Tanker 5-5, Ladder 5-9 returned at 07:20. Dept 5 chiefs remained on-scene into the afternoon to assist the Fire Marshall. The cause appears to be electrical in nature but an official determination has yet to be made.
Thank you to all companies that assisted on this fire. Also, thank you to the junior firefighters who were taking part in the Future First Responder Boot Camp at CVHS. They came down and assisted with rolling hose and cleaning up after the fire was out. It really is a big relief when help shows up to help wrap things up at the end.
Thank you to Sabinsville Ambulance and UPMC Wellsboro ALS for providing EMS monitoring and rehab. One firefighter was transported to UPMC Wellsboro as a precaution and was determined to be ok.
We would like to thank the following stand-by companies: Middlebury Twp (at Westfield), Tioga (at Knoxville), Roulette (at Coudersport).
Our hearts go out to the folks that lived in the front of this building. We were able to limit the majority of the building to smoke and heat damage only, but multiple rooms in the apartment in the front of the building were heavily damaged by fire. Red Cross was dispatched to assist the family.
Dept 5 Response
Command: Chief 5 William Goltz/Chief 5-30 Kyle Mack
Engine 5-3: – Operator – Chief 5-20 Marty Heyler, Officer – Chief 5-10 Brent Skelton, Firefighter Steve Brubaker, Firefighter Matthew Reed
Tanker 5-5: Operator – Firefighter Dave Earle
Ladder 5-9: Operator – Captain 5-80 Andrew Adams
Fire Police: Fire Police Chief Mike James, Fire Police Lieutenant Gary Bisel
POV/Other: Firefighter Lacy Miles, Firefighter Kendra Miles, EMT Brooke Swimley, Junior Firefighter Tyler Adams, Junior Firefighter Sandra Lampman
